PIEZO1 and cancer: For example, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), matrix stiffening is manifested at the cellular and tissue levels by increased activation and expression of the Piezo1 gene, which in turn promotes the secretion of substances such as VEGF and CXCL16, as well as increased levels of the ubiquitylation of HIF-1α, which ultimately manifests itself as a substantial increase in the rate and extent of vascular growth of HCC and promotes metastatic spreading of cancer cells (Li M. et al., 2022).